Saturday, August 30, 2008

With all the press Anisette has been receiving lately, I couldn't wait until the 5x5 dinner at La Terza to try Chef Giraud's cooking. I prefer trying new restaurants during dinner service, but I was in the area around lunchtime and thought I'd stop in. The restaurant was a bit cramped for my tastes but with a lively atmosphere only possible in a place full of satisfied diners.

Croissant Au BeurreIt seemed wrong not to try the pastries given they are baked fresh daily on the premises. I went with a classic butter croissant which was crispy on the outside light and airy inside, with a sweet buttery flavor. Good but I don't really have too much to compare it against.

Cold Petits Pois Velouté - Fresh MintAlthough I am not a big fan of peas, recently I have enjoyed a number of dishes featuring peas as a key ingredient so I decided to try the pea soup here. The soup's cool temperature and the mild sweetness with a hint of mint on the finish were perfect foils for the warm summer temperature. The bowl was a bit too large and I ended up being too full to truly enjoy my entrée.

Savory Turkey Croissant - Gruyére, Scrambled Egg, Sautéed Spinach, Vine-Ripe TomatoesThe turkey was moist and flavorful and went very well with the cheese and tomatoes. I only had one bite but that left me wanting more

Brasserie Burger - Pancetta, Brie, Avocado, French FriesThe burger was a bit of a let down, the bun was toasted a bit too long for my tastes and the flavor a bit muddled and nondescript. Perhaps I was already too full or expecting a revelation like the burger at Father's Office, but I just wasn't impressed.

Chocolate Mousse - Sweet ToastsI was expecting something light and whipped but I couldn't have been more wrong. This was a thick intensely pure chocolate, just the way I like it. The sugared toast points provided a nice contrast in texture to the decadent chocolate.

Vacherin Glacé - Lavender Ice Cream, StrawberriesAlternating pieces of strawberry and meringue arrayed on the edges of a scoop of lavender ice cream topped with vanilla ice cream like petals of a flower. The lavender ice cream steals the show here with a soothing herbal/floral flavor that really has to be tasted to be understood.

I ended up with mixed feelings on the restaurant, by and large the food was very good, but I had overly high expectations. Hopefully trying dinner here will help resolve the confusion.Read more.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Compared to LA, Orange County has a relative dearth of high-end sushi restaurants, so any new opening is cause for excitement. Maki Zushi literally translates to rolled sushi. With a name like that I assumed the restaurant specialized in various rolls rather than nigiri. Looking at the chopsticks, the wrapper says "maki-zushi & hardcore sushi." When I asked Sakamoto-san he proudly declared they did hardcore sushi, which I took to mean more traditional offerings of nigiri. Although in all honesty the words "hardcore sushi" didn't inspire much confidence, and had it not been for other bloggers, I might not have tried this place.The restaurant is located in detached building in a small shopping center in Tustin. The exterior of the restaurant is fairly plain as is the interior. Once inside, we were greeted warmly by the owner/chef Yoshio Sakamoto. He seemed to make a point of speaking to every guest sitting at the bar. He seemed genuinely pleased that we chose to order the omakase, and proceeded to take personal care of our food. I get the feeling Sakamoto-san is trying to be responsive to the needs of his customers. As a result, he offers the best of both worlds, serving mostly rolls and more accessible dishes while retaining the ability to offer a more traditional experience as well.

Once we settled on the omakase, we were each given a place setting with fresh wasabi, and wasabi marinated cucumbers as well as bowls of miso soup. I don't care too much for miso soup and I couldn't detect anything special about this particular bowl. I did enjoy the cucumbers with their soft crunch and hint of sinus-clearing wasabi.

The fish served during the meal was divided by groups, first came the silverfish.

01 Iwashi - Japanese SardineNot one of my favorite fishes but this was a pretty good example, a good oily flavor, but I don't care for the texture all that much.

02 Soft Shell Crab TempuraSakamoto-san asked if we wanted a soft shell crab which he proceeded to show us, aside from Urasawa, I don't remember any chef in the States showing off live seafood before serving it. Despite not being a huge fan of soft-shell crab I decided to try it. Overall this was very good for what it was, nicely fried, but I am still distracted by the texture of the shell even though it is edible.

03 Iwashi no Hone Senbei - Fried Sardine BoneVery interesting visually, the presentation of deep fried fish bones is something I have not seen in the states. A nice flavor but it leaves my mouth feeling very dry. I had a similar dish in Japan but it was just the spine of the fish. I enjoyed that much more so I think a smaller portion here might have been in order.

04 Aji - Spanish MackerelThe first truly standout bite I have had all night. The Aji had all the oiliness I come to expect from truly good mackerel and a nice dense and soft texture that made this a pleasure to eat.

05 Tobiuo - Flying FishThis was my first time having Tobiuo, I wanted to order it once at Abe, but they were out that night. This was probably the most visually pleasing dish of the night. The fish had a very mild flavor and reminded me of halibut although the texture was a bit firmer. The mild flavor of the fish lent itself very well to the wasabi infused masago and a little bit of lime juice.

06 Shima Aji - YellowjackDelicious, I loved the sweet flavor and soft lithe texture of this fish. The sensation when biting through the flesh was very satisfying.

07 Shako - Mantis ShrimpAnother first for me, I had hoped to try this in Japan but no luck. The mantis shrimp was served cooked and had a mild flavor and a very dense texture. I didn't enjoy the texture but Sakamoto-san didn't seem surprised, he said Shako was more of an acquired taste.

08 Aji no Hone Senbei - Fried Spanish Mackerel BoneVery much like above, an interesting treat but theres just so much the bones become brittle and leave the tongue feeling very rough.

09 Amaebi - Sweet ShrimpA longtime sushi favorite of mine. This was an unusual presentation thanks to the addition of a quail egg yolk. The shrimp itself was crisp but yielded a sweet creaminess after a few seconds. The egg added its own brand of creaminess and a slick texture that was unique and memorable. Texturally, this kind of reminded me of the amaebi with shrimp brain at Urasawa but the flavors here worked much better.

Now onto a whitefish duo, Tai and Kinmedai.

10 Tai - Red SnapperI seem to have two different experiences with red snapper, some places the fish is overly soft and unappealing and some have this delicate firmness to them that is extremely wonderful. This falls into the latter category and is probably my second favorite tai after Tsukiji in Gardena.

11 Kinmedai - Alfonsino (Golden Eye Snapper)Another rarity that I have only been seeing recently. I first experienced this fish at Zo but I believe they called it Golden Eye Snapper. Although looking at the photos, this looks and tasted more like the kurodai. At any rate this was one of the best fishes of the night and easily the best example of kinmedai I have ever tasted.

12 Tairagai - Halfmoon ScallopYet another first for me. The scallop was extremely fresh, with a hint of sweet brine that pairs well with just a hint of the citrus. I had a hard time differentiating this from the more standard hotategai, I think it might be just a touch firmer.

13 Sazae - Turban Sea SnailI mistook this for Conch when it was presented to us. Sakamoto-san corrected me, saying Sazae is much better. Truth be told I couldn't really tell, the meat was similarly firm, perhaps a bit crisper. Like Conch, this dish came with black pieces of the liver mixed in with the meat. No matter how many times I try the liver I just can't appreciate the dark bitter flavor or spongy texture, despite the liver supposedly being the best part.

14 Ubagai - Surf ClamI heard Sakamoto-san call this surf clam but I am not sure if I have the right Japanese translation. The clam came beautifully presented with the shell. I thought the meat was crunchy but not overly firm, and a bit lighter in flavor although having a similar sweetness to mirugai.

Onto yellowtail, this trio consisted of yellowtail belly, yellowtail, and young yellowtail

15 Hamachi Toro - Yellowtail BellyQuite nice, a softer fattier version of the classic yellowtail. Yellowtail has long been a favorite of mine, this had all the same flavor and more. Although I do think I like the firmer texture a bit better

16 Hamachi - YellowtailThe aforementioned classic yellowtail. This was a solid but not particularly noteworthy especially after trying the belly. I probably should have eaten these two in reverse order.

17 Inada - Baby YellowtailA vivid pink color serves as a clear distinction from its older cousin. The inada had a soft silky texture and a subtle flavor, as if the fish hadn't had the chance to build up the classic fish oils before being devoured.

18 Uni - Sea UrchinI was looking forward to this all night. All too often restaurants serve uni they shouldn't, resulting in a mushy bitter mess. I figured nothing could beat live sea urchin right? Sadly this wasn't quite as good as some of my past experiences, there was still a bitter tang on the finish. Despite that I would rank this fairly highly on my scale of uni experiences, just not at the top.

Home stretch now, only the tuna nigiri left, first a white tuna, then maguro with and without uni and lastly ohtoro.

19 Shiro Maguro Toro - White Tuna BellyEvery experience I can recall with shiro maguro has been a good one. This was no exception, although a piece of gristle kept this from being perfect.

20 Maguro - Bluefin TunaI was very impressed with this maguro, softer and oilier than most, this was almost toro-like.

21 Maguro and Uni - Bluefin Tuna topped with Sea UrchinI love uni, I love maguro, stands to reason this paring should be great right? Well not quite, the two flavors just didn't pair well, each sort of blunting the other and masking the subtle characteristics I enjoy so much out of them separately.

22 Ohtoro - Fatty Tuna BellyIf the maguro is toro-like, what is the toro like? Great, not the best texture-wise perfect, but the flavor was a bit lacking. I expected my taste buds to explode with the buttery-rich flavor but it wasn't even that much more intense than the maguro. I am willing to chalk this up to chance and betting a second experience will be better.

At this point we signaled we were too full to continue. At the start of the meal I mentioned I wanted to try everything on the menu. Smiling, Sakamoto-san mentioned there were still more things he could make, then offered us each a complementary dessert to commemorate our first trip to the restaurant.

23 Coffee Jello - with vanilla ice creamI really could have done without this, the coffee was intense but also had a strong flavor of alcohol which left an unpleasant bitter aftertaste.

24 Green Tea Creme Brulee - with toffee crumbsSlightly sweet and herbal, with a soft texture that contrasted very well with the sweet crunch of the toffee crumbs

The quality of the fish is top-notch and the selection unparalleled in Orange County. I'd probably have a hard time picking between this place and Sushi Wasabi as the top sushi in Orange County. The price here is a bit higher than at Wasabi and about what you would expect from a restaurant of this caliber. Ultimately I walked out of there a bit disappointed, I didn't particularly care for the fried fish bones or wasabi he used. I felt the flavor of the wasabi was a bit off, clashing with the flavor of the soy and fish and the relatively large pieces made it difficult to eat with nigiri. Despite these setbacks I would like to try the restaurant again, this time with an emphasis on the fish.

For a first time diner, I would still recommend the omakase. There are just so many things you may not have the chance to experience elsewhere. Heck I didn't even get to try everything, supposedly the hairy crab is incredible. If you do go, try to make it on a Friday since that is when they get their new stock in from Japan and everything is at its freshest.Read more.

La Cachette has always been a marginal restaurant on my list. However I heard several people rave about the foie gras. Given that it is one of the girlfriend's favorite dishes I figured might as well try it. Getting in can be confusing, the address is off Santa Monica. We parked a block up the street and entered through what ended up being the back door. The front is actually in a little alley off Thayer. It was a bit uncomfortable entering through the back since we had to walk through the entire dining room to get to the host's station, thankfully we were early and there was only one party. The decor of the dining room struck me as fairly quaint, and maybe a touch old fashioned. Upon closer inspection some of the paint seems chipped and in general the dining room is starting to show some age.

Amuse: Sundried Tomato Tart - Herb Pureé, Saffron, and Toasted Olive bitsA very visually appealing amuse, beautifully arranged, nice color definitely eye candy. And it tasted as good as it looked the tomato was sweet and dense with a bit of bitterness from the olive and some green flavors from the puree. The tart was light and fluffy, each layer distinct and crisp. They do their tarts here just the way I like flaky, crisp and buttery.

Bread - Butter and TaponadeThe bread here is decent, warm with a hard exterior and moist soft interior. Very simple and straightforward, paired nicely with the traditional butter as well as the taponade.

01a Leek Salad - Tomato, Brioche, VinaigretteA nice light salad a very good way to start a summer meal. The leeks had a nice rough texture and a mild sweetness that went very well with the dressing.

01b Napoléon of Foie Gras - Layers of Sautéed Foie Gras, Foie Gras Terrine and thin Caramelized Puff Pastry served with Black Fig Relish and a Muscat Grappe Sauce with VerjusSeveral people considered the foie at La Cachette the best in the city so I had been looking forward to this for a long time. When I started eating foie gras I preferred the seared preparation, but lately I have been favoring terrine and au torchon so I was excited to get a chance to mix the two. Sadly, the texture of the terrine was soft as if it has been melted, and it lacked the silky richness I associate with terrine. I am not sure if the terrine was cooked or this was due to the hot seared foie gras on top, either way it was a shame. The puff pastry was brilliant just like before but the foie was a disappointment.

02a Lightly Fried Calamari - Stuffed with Smoked Salmon Pureé and Tempura Squash BlossomThe calamari was one of the off-menu specials for the night. The squid was good, but nothing remarkable. The smoked salmon stuffing inside the squid was bad, it tasted like smoked salmon but the flavor was jarring when mixed with the calamari. And the fish was so processed, I couldn't even enjoy the natural texture of the fish. Actually my favorite part of this course was the blossom which was nicely fried, with an airy crunch to it.

02b Terrine of Foie Gras - Jean-Francois' Duck Foie Gras Terrine, seasoned with Sauternes and Black Pepper, served with Brioche Toast and a Rhubarb-Goji Berry JamSince the Napoléon didn't go so well I decided to try the Terrine. This is more like it! The block of fatty liver is very dense, slightly sweetened with a hint of Sauternes and seasoned with pepper to prevent the dish from being to unctuous or cloying. Smooth and rich, perfect alone or with bread and jam. If I had one complaint it was the presentation, a slab of foie gras and some jam on the side with a plate of toast isn't the most aesthetically pleasing, thankfully it tasted much better than it looked.

03a Grilled Alaskan King Salmon - Sauerkraut, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Smoked Salmon SaladI thought this was horribly overcooked, and my girlfriend thought it was passable but nothing special. Ditto for the potatoes and sauerkraut The side of smoked salmon with mayo seemed out of place, why add more salmon to the dish?

03b Veal Sweetbreads - Sautéed Veal Sweetbreads with a Morel Port Sauce lightly creamed, served with a Provencal Beef Daube RaviolisThis was my first time having sweetbreads as an entrée at Kevin Taylor and Sona, I had fried Sweetbreads as a component in dishes and I loved them. Here I found the sweetbreads a bit tough, and heavy, with a flavor somewhat akin to liver. The beef daube raviolis presented an interesting diversion although they weren't particularly memorable either. All in all a competent if forgettable dish.

04b Strawberry Rhubarb TartAgain the crust of the tart was quite good, I just wish the same could be said for the strawberry and rhubarb. I didn't care for the texture, it felt like the fruit was cooked a bit too long and the flavor seemed so monotonous, I could have been happy with just one bite rather than the whole dessert.

Competent seems to suit the restaurant very well. The service is prompt and helpful, what one would expect from a restaurant of this caliber. With regards to the food, there were some standouts, but for the most part everything was just okay. My first impression after dining at La Cachette, was tired, although I eventually thought comfortable might be appropriate. The restaurant seems to have reached equilibrium, the staff knows what it does well and is happy to keep on doing it, there doesn't seem to be any spark of adventure or excitement. I think the restaurant can be very good, it just needs something to shake it out of the funk it has settled in.Read more.